T-type amino functional release agent for fuser members

ABSTRACT

A fuser member component to fuse the transferred developed image to the copy substrate, wherein the fuser member includes a substrate, an outer polymeric layer, and a release agent material coating on the outer polymeric layer, and the release agent material coating includes a T-type amino-functional siloxane release agent material having amino-functional groups, and the T-type amino-functional siloxane release agent material has the following Formula I: 
                         
wherein A represents —R 4 —X, wherein R 4  represents an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 10 carbons, X represents —NH 2  or —NHR 5 NH 2  with R 5  representing an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 10 carbons; R 1  and R 2  are the same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl having from about 1 to about 25 carbons, an aryl having from about 4 to about 10 carbons, and an arylalkyl; R 3  is a substituted diorganosiloxane chain having from about 1 to about 500 siloxane units; b and c are numbers and are the same or different and each satisfy the conditions of 1≦b≦10 and 10≦c≦1,000, d and d′ are numbers and are the same or different and are 1 or 2, and e and e′ are numbers and are the same or different and are 1 or 2 and satisfy the conditions that d+e=3 and d′+e′=3.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Attention should be given to the following co-pending patentapplications, U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/877,472, filed Jun.25, 2004, entitled, “Blended Amino-Functional Siloxane Release Agent forFuser Members;” U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/876,505, filed Jun.25, 2004, entitled, “Blended Amino-Functional Siloxane Release Agent forFuser Members;” U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/876,404, filed Jun.25, 2004, entitled, “Amino-Functional Siloxane Copolymer Release Agentfor Fuser Members.” These applications are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to fuser members useful inelectrostatographic reproducing apparatuses, including digital, image onimage, and contact electrostatic printing and copying apparatuses. Thepresent fuser members may be used as fuser members, pressure members,transfuse or transfix members, and the like. In an embodiment, the fusermembers comprise an outer layer comprising a polymer and having thereon,a liquid release agent. In embodiments, the release agent is an aminofunctional siloxane release agent. In embodiments, the amino-functionalsiloxane release agent comprises a pendant functional amino group. Inembodiments, more than one amino-functional release agent is used as ablend. In still other embodiments, the amino functional siloxane releaseagent is a T-type amino functional siloxane release agent.

In a typical electrostatographic reproducing apparatus, a light image ofan original to be copied is recorded in the form of an electrostaticlatent image upon a photosensitive member, and the latent image issubsequently rendered visible by the application of electroscopicthermoplastic resin particles and pigment particles, or toner. Thevisible toner image is then in a loose powdered form and can be easilydisturbed or destroyed. The toner image is usually fixed or fused upon asupport, which may be the photosensitive member itself, or other supportsheet such as plain paper.

The use of thermal energy for fixing toner images onto a support memberis well known. To fuse electroscopic toner material onto a supportsurface permanently by heat, it is usually necessary to elevate thetemperature of the toner material to a point at which the constituentsof the toner material coalesce and become tacky. This heating causes thetoner to flow to some extent into the fibers or pores of the supportmember. Thereafter, as the toner material cools, solidification of thetoner material causes the toner material to be firmly bonded to thesupport.

Typically, the thermoplastic resin particles are fused to the substrateby heating to a temperature of between about 90° C. to about 200° C. orhigher depending upon the softening range of the particular resin usedin the toner. It may be undesirable to increase the temperature of thesubstrate substantially higher than about 250° C., because of thetendency of the substrate to discolor or convert into fire at suchelevated temperatures, particularly when the substrate is paper.

Several approaches to thermal fusing of electroscopic toner images havebeen described. These methods include providing the application of heatand pressure substantially concurrently by various means, a roll pairmaintained in pressure contact, a belt member in pressure contact with aroll, a belt member in pressure contact with a heater, and the like.Heat may be applied by heating one or both of the rolls, plate members,or belt members. The fusing of the toner particles takes place when theproper combinations of heat, pressure and contact time are provided. Thebalancing of these parameters to bring about the fusing of the tonerparticles is well known in the art, and can be adjusted to suitparticular machines or process conditions.

During operation of a fusing system in which heat is applied to causethermal fusing of the toner particles onto a support, both the tonerimage and the support are passed through a nip formed between the rollpair, or plate or belt members. The concurrent transfer of heat and theapplication of pressure in the nip affect the fusing of the toner imageonto the support. It is important in the fusing process that no offsetof the toner particles from the support to the fuser member takes placeduring normal operations. Toner particles offset onto the fuser membermay subsequently transfer to other parts of the machine or onto thesupport in subsequent copying cycles, thus increasing the background orinterfering with the material being copied there. The referred to “hotoffset” occurs when the temperature of the toner is increased to a pointwhere the toner particles liquefy and a splitting of the molten tonertakes place during the fusing operation with a portion remaining on thefuser member. The hot offset temperature or degradation of the hotoffset temperature is a measure of the release property of the fuserroll, and accordingly it is desired to provide a fusing surface, whichhas a low surface energy to provide the necessary release. To ensure andmaintain good release properties of the fuser roll, it has becomecustomary to apply release agents to the fuser roll during the fusingoperation. Typically, these materials are applied as thin films of, forexample, nonfunctional silicone oils or mercapto- or amino-functionalsilicone oils, to prevent toner offset.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,827 discloses the use of polyorganosiloxanes havingmercapto functionality as release agents.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,686 to Strella et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,140also to Strella et al., both disclose polymeric release agents havingfunctional groups such as carboxy, hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate,thioether, or mercapto groups.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,445 to Shoji et al. discloses toner release oilhaving a functional organopolysiloxane of a certain formula.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,725 to Bluett et al. discloses a release agent blendcomposition wherein volatile emissions arising from the fuser releaseagent oil blend are reduced or eliminated.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,409 to Henry et al. teaches a method of fusingthermoplastic resin toner images to a substrate using amino functionalsilicone oil over a hydrofluoroelastomer fuser member.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,361 to Chow et al. teaches a fusing member having athermally stable FKM hydrofluoroelastomer surface and having apolyorgano T-type amino functional oil release agent. The oil haspredominantly monoamino functionality per active molecule to interactwith the hydrofluoroelastomer surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,813 to Henry et al. discloses a polyorgano aminofunctional oil release agent having at least 85% monoamino functionalityper active molecule to interact with the thermally stable FKMhydrofluoroelastomer surface of the fuser member.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,320 discloses the use of fluorosilicone polymers foruse on fixing rollers with outermost layers of perfluoroalkoxy andtetrafluoroethylene resins.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,747 discloses the use of fluorine-containingsilicone oils for use on fixing rollers with outermost layers ofethylene tetrafluoride perfluoro alkoxyethylene copolymer,polytetrafluoroethylene and polyfluoroethylenepropylene copolymer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,212 to Kaplan et al. discloses an amino functionaloil having a formulation set forth in the patent.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,929 B1 to Chow et al. discloses a release agentcomprising (a) an organosiloxane polymer containing amino-substituted ormercapto-substituted organosiloxane polymers, wherein the amino ormercapto functional groups on at least some of the polymer moleculeshaving a degree of functionality of from about 0.2 to about 5 molepercent, and (b) a nonfunctional organosiloxane polymer having aviscosity of from about 100 to about 2,000 centistrokes, and wherein themixture has a degree of functionality of from about 0.05 to about 0.4mole percent.

The use of polymeric release agents having functional groups, whichinteract with a fuser member to form a thermally stable, renewableself-cleaning layer having good release properties for electroscopicthermoplastic resin toners, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,827.

In high-speed color fusing applications, adequate coverage of the fusermember surface is required to meet the demanding environmentalconditions and exposure to various levels of toner materials andadditives, rapid high temperature thermal cycling and various mediacomposition and weights. Amino silicone release agents are typicallyused in such high-speed color fusing systems, due to their ability tosufficiently react with the fluoroelastomer surface coatings that areused in conventional fuser member component compositions. In maintaininga printing system level balance and reliability among the fuser membercoating properties, paper properties, toner composition and imagecontent it is necessary to utilize a release fluid that is robustagainst average customer document job mix failures modes as well asspecific stress cases that result in failure modes that render the fusermember unusable and thus increase costs of operations and ownership.

Several specific examples of these catastrophic failure modes areoutlined herein. A stripping failure in an electrophotographic fusingsystem is defined as a failure where the paper leaving the exit nip ofthe fuser is still adhered to the roll surface, resulting in the paperfollowing the fuser surface back around rather than freely leaving thenip. This failure is caused by a failure of the release agent to splitwithin the layer applied to the fuser member surface or by toner on theimaged page contacting the fuser member surface; resulting in adhesiveforces holding the imaged page to the member as the sheet passes throughthe nip. This results in the paper being heated too long, the toner incontact with the fuser member surface for an extended period of time andpotential non-recoverable jam situations that render the fuser memberunusable beyond this particular failure mode. Offset failures inhigh-speed color fusing are characterized by a gradual build-up ofun-transferred or unreleased residual toner and built-up gelation of oilover the course of several thousand copies. It is observed underdifferent image densities and conditions than stripping failures, andalso results in a catastrophic failure for the fuser member. As copycount increases and material from gelled fuser oil and toner continue toaccumulate on the fuser surface, the material eventually builds up tosuch a level that it transfers back to subsequent images, resulting in anoticeable print quality defect. The location of the built up materialon the roll will continue to transfer a defect to prints and isdifficult to remove, thus rendering the fuser member unusable after thepoint of failure. Accelerated testing can be performed for each of thesefailure modes. In some cases, the offset stripping defect will occur inthe stripping stress test. In most cases, however, each acceleratedstress test will only exhibit a catastrophic failure in the failure modeit is testing for. Thus it is possible that silicone release agentspossessing different structures, methods of making, and compositions,could be useful for mitigating each of the respective defects inhigh-speed color fusing applications.

In addition, some print quality defects are observable in high-speedcolor applications that render the print objectionable to the customer.One example of a print quality defect, although there are several, isdenoted as wavy gloss. Wavy gloss is a print quality defect thatexhibits random variable gloss levels within a single imaged sheet. Thedefect can appear and disappear, but occurs to varying levels dependingon the nature and composition of the release fluid.

There are three major failure modes of the high-speed full process colorfusing namely stripping, hot offset and wavy gloss. The first two impactthe fuser reliability, which is basically fuser life and paper jamming.The third failure mode results into image quality defects due todifferential gloss. Differential gloss is a phenomenon that occurs whenthere is a noticeable difference in the gloss levels between differentspots within a single image/page. Normally, this is associated withcharacteristic wear patterns or other artifacts on the fuser roll orother hardware. Differential gloss typically appears in a starkdelineation in appearance. The wavy gloss is wavy, or in other words,the width and length of the pattern on the image is variable and notdelineated, as in most typical differential gloss print artifacts.

Therefore, for polymeric outer layers, including fluoroelastomeric fusermember outer layers, there exists a specific need for a release agent,which provides sufficient wetting of the fuser member. It is furtherdesired to provide a fuser member release agent, which has little or nointeraction with copy substrates such as paper, so that the releaseagent does not interfere with adhesives and POST-IT® notes (by 3M)adhering to the copy substrate such as paper. It is further desired thatthe oil not prevent ink adhesion to the final copy substrate. Inaddition, it is desired that the release agent does not react withcomponents of the toner. It is also desired to provide anamino-functional release agent decreases or eliminates gelation. Also,it is desired to provide a release agent that enables increase in lifeof the fuser member by improved spreading of the release agent. Afurther desired feature is to provide a fuser release agent increaseslife of the fuser member by decreasing offset failure and strippingfailures, reducing paper jams, and improving overall image quality.

SUMMARY

Embodiments herein include a fuser member comprising a substrate; anouter polymeric layer; and a release agent material coating on the outerpolymeric layer, wherein the release agent material coating comprises aT-type amino-functional siloxane release agent material havingamino-functional groups, wherein the T-type amino-functional siloxanerelease agent material has the following Formula I:

wherein A represents —R₄—X, wherein R₄ represents an alkyl group havingfrom about 1 to about 10 carbons, X represents —NH₂ or —NHR₅NH₂ with R₅representing an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 10 carbons; R₁and R₂ are the same or different and each is selected from the groupconsisting of an alkyl having from about 1 to about 25 carbons, an arylhaving from about 4 to about 10 carbons, and an arylalkyl; R₃ is asubstituted diorganosiloxane chain having from about 1 to about 500siloxane units; b and c are numbers and the same or different and eachsatisfy the conditions of 1≦b≦10 and 10≦c≦1,000, d and d′ are numbersand are the same or different and are 1 or 2, and e and e′ are numbersand are the same or different and are 1 or 2 and satisfy the conditionsthat d+e=3 and d′+e′=3.

Also, embodiments include a fuser member comprising a substrate; anouter polymeric layer comprising a fluoroelastomer; and a release agentmaterial coating on the outer polymeric fluoroelastomer layer, whereinthe release agent material coating comprises a T-type amino functionalsiloxane release agent material having amino-functional groups, whereinthe T-type amino functional siloxane release agent material has thefollowing Formula I:

wherein A represents —R₄—X, wherein R₄ represents an alkyl group havingfrom about 1 to about 10 carbons, X represents —NH₂ or —NHR₅NH₂ with R₅representing an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 10 carbons; R₁and R₂ are the same or different and each is selected from the groupconsisting of an alkyl having from about 1 to about 25 carbons, an arylhaving from about 4 to about 10 carbons, and an arylalkyl; R₃ is asubstituted diorganosiloxane chain having from about 1 to about 500siloxane units; b and c are numbers and are the same or different andeach satisfy the conditions of 1≦b≦10 and 10≦c≦1,000, d and d′ arenumbers and are the same or different and are 1 or 2, and e and e′ arenumbers and are the same or different and are 1 or 2 and satisfy theconditions that d+e=3 and d′+e′=3.

Embodiments further include an image forming apparatus for formingimages on a recording medium comprising a charge-retentive surface toreceive an electrostatic latent image thereon; a development componentto apply a developer material to the charge-retentive surface to developthe electrostatic latent image to form a developed image on the chargeretentive surface; a transfer component to transfer the developed imagefrom the charge retentive surface to a copy substrate; and a fusermember component to fuse the transferred developed image to the copysubstrate, wherein the fuser member comprises a substrate; an outerpolymeric layer; and a release agent material coating on the outerpolymeric layer, wherein the release agent material coating comprises aT-type amino-functional siloxane release agent material havingamino-functional groups, wherein the T-type amino-functional siloxanerelease agent material has the following Formula I:

wherein A represents —R₄—X, wherein R₄ represents an alkyl group havingfrom about 1 to about 10 carbons, X represents —NH₂ or —NHR₅NH₂ with R₅representing an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 10 carbons; R₁and R₂ are the same or different and each is selected from the groupconsisting of an alkyl having from about 1 to about 25 carbons, an arylhaving from about 4 to about 10 carbons, and an arylalkyl; R₃ is asubstituted diorganosiloxane chain having from about 1 to about 500siloxane units; b and c are numbers and are the same or different andeach satisfy the conditions of 1≦b≦10 and 10≦c≦1,000, d and d′ arenumbers and are the same or different and are 1 or 2, and e and e′ arenumbers and are the same or different and are 1 or 2 and satisfy theconditions that d+e=3 and d′+e′=3.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may behad to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an image apparatus in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side view of an embodiment of a fuser member,showing a fuser member with a substrate, intermediate layer, outerlayer, and release agent coating layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to fuser members having a liquid releaseagent or fuser oil in combination therewith. The fuser member has anouter layer in combination with an amino-functional release agent. Thepresent amino-functional release agent results in a decrease orelimination of gelation, even when used in color fusing. The presentamino-functional release agent forms a chemical bond with the outerfusing surface, which provides a renewable release layer that allows thefused image to freely detach from the surface of the fuser member uponexit from the high pressure, high temperature fuser nip. Theamino-functional release agent is especially useful in high performance,fast and full process color printer and copy machines. Theamino-functional release agent increases the life of the fuser member,thereby resulting in a cost savings and increased satisfaction to thecustomer.

The faster and full process color fusing requires higher toner pileheights and relatively higher fusing temperatures. As a result, thethermal stability requirements for the fuser materials and the releaseoils are more stringent as compared to black and white, and slower speedfusing. Higher temperature has an adverse effect on maintaining thedesired amine level for chemical reaction with the fuser surface, and ingelation attributes on the fuser roll surface. In addition, thecomponents of the four color toners which may vary in amounts and typecan also have an adverse effect on the ability of the amino oil tointeract with the fuser surface. This results into faster dirtying ofthe oil sump, slimes on the fuser surface, and streaks causing prematurefuser failures, paper jams and image quality defects. The describedfuser oil eliminates or reduces the above-listed problems, inembodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a typical electrostatographic reproducingapparatus, a light image of an original to be copied is recorded in theform of an electrostatic latent image upon a photosensitive member andthe latent image is subsequently rendered visible by the application ofelectroscopic thermoplastic resin particles which are commonly referredto as toner. Specifically, photoreceptor 10 is charged on its surface bymeans of a charger 12 to which a voltage has been supplied from powersupply 11. The photoreceptor is then imagewise exposed to light from anoptical system or an image input apparatus 13, such as a laser and lightemitting diode, to form an electrostatic latent image thereon.Generally, the electrostatic latent image is developed by bringing adeveloper mixture from developer station 14 into contact therewith.Development can be effected by use of a magnetic brush, powder cloud, orother known development process. A dry developer mixture usuallycomprises carrier granules having toner particles adheringtriboelectrically thereto. Toner particles are attracted from thecarrier granules to the latent image forming a toner powder imagethereon. Alternatively, a liquid developer material may be employed,which includes a liquid carrier having toner particles dispersedtherein. The liquid developer material is advanced into contact with theelectrostatic latent image and the toner particles are deposited thereonin image configuration.

After the toner particles have been deposited on the photoconductivesurface, in image configuration, they are transferred to a copy sheet 16by transfer means 15, which can be pressure transfer or electrostatictransfer. Alternatively, the developed image can be transferred to anintermediate transfer member, or bias transfer member, and subsequentlytransferred to a copy sheet. Examples of copy substrates include paper,transparency material such as polyester, polycarbonate, or the like,cloth, wood, or any other desired material upon which the finished imagewill be situated.

After the transfer of the developed image is completed, copy sheet 16advances to fusing station 19, depicted in FIG. 1 as fuser roll 20 andpressure roll 21 (although any other fusing components such as fuserbelt in contact with a pressure roll, fuser roll in contact withpressure belt, and the like, are suitable for use with the presentapparatus), wherein the developed image is fused to copy sheet 16 bypassing copy sheet 16 between the fusing and pressure members, therebyforming a permanent image. Alternatively, transfer and fusing can beeffected by a transfix application.

Photoreceptor 10, subsequent to transfer, advances to cleaning station17, wherein any toner left on photoreceptor 10 is cleaned therefrom byuse of a blade 22 (as shown in FIG. 1), brush, or other cleaningapparatus.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of an embodiment of a fuser member,demonstrating the various possible layers. As shown in FIG. 2, substrate1 has an optional intermediate layer 2 thereon. Intermediate layer 2 canbe, for example, a rubber such as silicone rubber or other suitablematerial. On optional intermediate layer 2 is positioned outer layer 3,which comprises a polymer such as those described below. Positioned onouter layer 3 is outermost liquid amino-functional siloxane releaselayer 4.

Examples of the outer surface polymers of the fuser system membersinclude fluoropolymers such as fluoroelastomers andhydrofluoroelastomers.

Specifically, suitable fluoroelastomers are those described in detail inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,166,031, 5,281,506, 5,366,772 and 5,370,931, togetherwith U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,257,699, 5,017,432 and 5,061,965, the disclosureseach of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Asdescribed therein, these elastomers are from the class of 1) copolymersof two vinylidenefluoride and hexafluoropropylene (known commercially asVITON® A); 2) terpolymers of vinylidenefluoride, hexafluoropropylene andtetrafluoroethylene (known commercially as VITON® B); and 3)tetrapolymers of vinylidenefluoride, hexafluoropropylene,tetrafluoroethylene and cure site monomer (known commercially as VITON®GH and VITON® GF). Examples of commercially available fluoroelastomersinclude those sold under various designations such as VITON® A, VITON®B, VITON® E, VITON® E60C, VITON® E430, VITON® 910, VITON® GH; VITON® GF;and VITON® ETP. The VITON® designation is a trademark of E.I. DuPont deNemours, Inc. The cure site monomer can be4-bromoperfluorobutene-1,1,1-dihydro-4-bromoperfluorobutene-1,3-bromoperfluoropropene-1,1,1-dihydro-3-bromoperfluoropropene-1,or any other suitable, known cure site monomer. These listed arecommercially available from DuPont. The fluoroelastomers VITON GH® andVITON GF® have relatively low amounts of vinylidenefluoride. The VITONGF® and VITON GH® have about 35 weight percent of vinylidenefluoride,about 34 weight percent of hexafluoropropylene, and about 29 weightpercent of tetrafluoroethylene with about 2 weight percent cure sitemonomer.

Other commercially available fluoropolymers include FLUOREL 2170®,FLUOREL 2174®, FLUOREL 2176®, FLUOREL 2177® and FLUOREL LVS 76®,FLUOREL® being a Trademark of 3M Company. Additional commerciallyavailable materials include AFLAS™ a poly(propylene-tetrafluoroethylene)and FLUOREL II® (LII1900) apoly(propylene-tetrafluoroethylenevinylidenefluoride) both alsoavailable from 3M Company, as well as the Tecnoflons identified asFOR-60KIR®, FOR-LHF®, NM® FOR-THF®, FOR-TFS®, TH®, and TN505®, availablefrom Montedison Specialty Chemical Company.

Examples of other fluoropolymers include fluoroplastics orfluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylenepropylene resin, perfluoroalkoxy, and other TEFLON®-like materials, andpolymers thereof.

In embodiments, a fluoroelastomer can also be blended or copolymerizedwith non-fluorinated ethylene or non-fluorinated propylene.

Examples of suitable silicone rubbers include high temperaturevulcanization (HTV) silicone rubbers and low temperature vulcanization(LTV) silicone rubbers. These rubbers are known and readily availablecommercially such as SILASTIC® 735 black RTV and SILASTIC® 732 RTV, bothfrom Dow Corning; and 106 RTV Silicone Rubber and 90 RTV SiliconeRubber, both from General Electric. Other suitable silicone materialsinclude the siloxanes (such as polydimethylsiloxanes); fluorosiliconessuch as Silicone Rubber 552, available from Sampson Coatings, Richmond,Va.; liquid silicone rubbers such as vinyl crosslinked heat curablerubbers or silanol room temperature crosslinked materials; and the like.Another specific example is Dow Corning Sylgard 182.

The amount of polymer compound in solution in the outer layer solution,in weight percent total solids, is from about 10 to about 25 percent, orfrom about 16 to about 22 percent by weight of total solids. Totalsolids as used herein include the amount of polymer, dehydrofluorinatingagent (if present) and optional adjuvants and fillers.

An inorganic particulate filler may be used in connection with thepolymeric outer layer, in order to provide anchoring sites for thefunctional groups of the fuser agent. Examples of suitable fillersinclude inorganic fillers such as silicas or a metal-containing filler,such as a metal, metal alloy, metal oxide, metal salt, or other metalcompound. The general classes of metals which can be used include thosemetals of Groups 1a, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8 and therare earth elements of the Periodic Table. For example, the filler canbe an oxide of aluminum, copper, tin, zinc, lead, iron, platinum, gold,silver, antimony, bismuth, zinc, iridium, ruthenium, tungsten,manganese, cadmium, mercury, vanadium, chromium, magnesium, nickel andalloys thereof. Other specific examples include inorganic particulatefillers of aluminum oxide and cupric oxide. Other examples includereinforcing and non-reinforcing calcined alumina and tabular aluminarespectively, along with silicas.

The thickness of the outer polymeric surface layer of the fuser memberherein is from about 10 to about 250 micrometers, or from about 15 toabout 100 micrometers.

Optional intermediate adhesive layers and/or intermediate polymer orelastomer layers may be applied to achieve desired properties andperformance objectives of the present invention. The intermediate layermay be present between the substrate and the outer polymeric surface.Examples of suitable intermediate layers include silicone rubbers suchas room temperature vulcanization (RTV) silicone rubbers; hightemperature vulcanization (HTV) silicone rubbers and low temperaturevulcanization (LTV) silicone rubbers. These rubbers are known andreadily available commercially such as SILASTIC® 735 black RTV andSILASTIC® 732 RTV, both from Dow Corning; and 106 RTV Silicone Rubberand 90 RTV Silicone Rubber, both from General Electric. Other suitablesilicone materials include the siloxanes (such aspolydimethylsiloxanes); fluorosilicones such as Silicone Rubber 552,available from Sampson Coatings, Richmond, Va.; liquid silicone rubberssuch as vinyl crosslinked heat curable rubbers or silanol roomtemperature crosslinked materials; and the like. Another specificexample is Dow Corning Sylgard 182. An adhesive intermediate layer maybe selected from, for example, epoxy resins and polysiloxanes.

There may be provided an adhesive layer between the substrate and theintermediate layer. There may also be an adhesive layer between theintermediate layer and the outer layer. In the absence of anintermediate layer, the polymeric outer layer may be bonded to thesubstrate via an adhesive layer.

The thickness of the intermediate layer is from about 0.5 to about 20mm, or from about 1 to about 5 mm.

The release agents or fusing oils described herein are provided onto theouter layer of the fuser member via a delivery mechanism such as adelivery roll. The delivery roll is partially immersed in a sump, whichhouses the fuser oil or release agent. The amino-functional oil isrenewable in that the release oil is housed in a holding sump andprovided to the fuser roll when needed, optionally by way of a releaseagent donor roll in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 20 mg/copy, orfrom about 1 to about 12 mg/copy. The system by which fuser oil isprovided to the fuser roll via a holding sump and optional donor roll iswell known. The release oil may be present on the fuser member in acontinuous or semicontinuous phase. The fuser oil in the form of a filmis in a continuous phase and continuously covers the fuser member.

Examples of suitable amino-functional release agent materials includethose having pendant and/or terminal amino groups, such as those havingthe following Formula I:

wherein A represents —R₄—X, wherein R₄ represents an alkyl group havingfrom about 1 to about 10 carbons, or from about 1 to about 8 carbons,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and the like, X represents —NH₂ or—NHR₅NH₂ with R₅ being the same as R₄ above; R₁ and R₂ are the same ordifferent and each is an alkyl having from about 1 to about 25 carbons,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and the like, aryl having fromabout 4 to about 10 carbons, or from about 6 to about 8 carbons, such ascyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl, and the like, and arylalkyl such asmethylphenyl, ethylphenyl, propylphenyl, and the like; R₃ can be asubstituted diorganosiloxane chain having from about 1 to about 500siloxane units, or from about 50 to about 200 siloxane units, andsubstituted with alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl as defined for R₁ and R₂above; b and c are numbers and are the same or different and eachsatisfy the conditions of 0≦b≦10 or 1≦b≦10 and 10≦c≦1,000, but both band c must not be 0 at the same time; and d and d′ are numbers and arethe same or different and are 2 or 3, and e and e′ are numbers and arethe same or different and are 0 or 1 and satisfy the conditions thatd+e=3 and d′+e′=3. In embodiments, b is at least 1, and d, d′, e and e′are 1 or 2, as long as they satisfy the above conditions.

In embodiments, d and d′ are 1, and e and e′ are 2.

In embodiments, d and d′ are 2, and e and e′ are 1.

In embodiments, d is 1, d′ is 2, e is 2 and e′ is 1.

In embodiments, X represents —NH₂, and R₄ is propyl.

In embodiments, X represents —NHR₅NH₂, and in embodiments, R₅ is propyl.

In embodiments, the T-type amino-functional siloxane release agentmaterial has an amino functionality provided by aminopropyl methylsiloxy groups. In other embodiments, the T-type amino-functionalsiloxane release agent material has an amino functionality provided byN-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl siloxy groups. In still otherembodiments, the T-type amino functional siloxane release agent materialcomprises trialkylsiloxy end groups.

In specific embodiments, the amino-functional fluid has the followingformulas below. In the formulas below, the diorgano-substitutions onsilicon are not shown.

In embodiments, the amine concentration is from about 0.01 to about 0.9mole percent, or from about 0.03 to about 0.6 mole percent, or fromabout 0.06 to about 0.30 mole percent. Mole percent amine refers to therelationship:100×(moles of amine groups/moles of silicon atoms).

Alternatively, a blend of two amino-functional release agent materialscan be used as the release agent composition. For example, a blend oftwo or more of the above-described amino-functional release agents canbe used. In embodiments, the blend comprises two different release agentmaterials of the above Formula I. In other embodiments, a blend of twoor more different amino-functional release agents having the above amineconcentrations can be used.

A nonfunctional oil, as used herein, refers to oils that do not havechemical functionality which interacts or chemically reacts with thesurface of the fuser member or with fillers on the surface. A functionaloil, as used herein, refers to a release agent having functional groupswhich chemically react with the fillers present on the surface of thefuser member, so as to reduce the surface energy of the fillers so as toprovide better release of toner particles from the surface of the fusermember. If the surface energy is not reduced, the toner particles willtend to adhere to the fuser roll surface or to filler particles on thesurface of the fuser roll, which will result in copy quality defects.

A generic method for making amino functionalized polydimethylsiloxanefuser oils includes making an amine-containing polydimethylsiloxaneconcentrate and subsequently diluting with nonfunctionalpolyorganosiloxane oil to provide a mixture with a distribution ofamines in a large group of siloxanes. In making the concentrate, abroader distribution of the amine functionality mono-, di- and tri-aminomay be obtained. In a typical reaction, end blocker, amino siloxane,catalyst and octamethyltetracyclosiloxane are reacted in a vessel atelevated temperature (of from about 100 to about 210° C., or from about145 to about 185° C.), for a desired time (of from about 2 to about 15hours, or from about 5 to about 10 hours). During this time period, thering opening and bond reformation occurs, resulting into randomdistribution of amine functionality on the polydimethylsiloxae chains.The residual catalyst is deactivated. This is generally followed byfinal removal of the volatiles under heat (for example, a temperature offrom about 175 to about 250° C., or from about 195 to about 220° C.),and pressure (for example, of from about 0.5 to about 5 torr, or fromabout 1 to about 2 torr). The resulting reaction product is then dilutedwith non-functional polydimethylsiloxane for use as fuser oil. Theamount and viscosity of the non-functional polydimethylsiloxane dependsupon what is required for final oil.

Alternatively, in formulating the functional oils that containpredominantly one amine-functional group per chain, a desired level ofamine concentration and final molecular weight are decided upon and theappropriate amounts of amine-containing monomer, non-amine containingmonomer, trimethylsiloxy end blocker, and polymerization catalysts areadded to the reaction vessel. This procedure maximizes the number ofactive molecules containing only one amine-functional group. In contrastto this procedure, when a concentrate is first prepared, there isgreater opportunity for a larger fraction to become multi-functional.This is because in a concentrate, there is a higher fraction of aminegroups present, thereby creating the opportunity for greater aminofunctionality per active chain. In contrast, in the batch, one pot, orone shot process, the amount of ingredients added is varied to provideor maximize the number of active molecules containing only oneamine-functional group. It is possible to make the functional oilcontaining a maximum number of active molecules with oneamine-functional group in a continuous run process with appropriatecontrol over the timing of addition and the amount of ingredients added.

The term active molecule as used herein, refers to the silicone oilmolecule having the amino functional group as part of its chemicalstructure. Typical polyorganosiloxanes containing a maximum number ofactive molecules with one amine-functional group may include, forexample, methyl aminopropyl dimethyl siloxane, ethyl aminopropyldimethyl siloxane, benzyl aminopropyl dimethyl siloxane, dodecylaminopropyl dimethyl siloxane, aminopropyl methyl siloxane, and thelike. These polyorganosiloxanes typically have a viscosity of from about100 to about 1,000 centipoise at 20° C. This permits easy handling ofthe oil particularly when delivering it to the fuser member.

In an embodiment, the amino functionality is provided by aminopropylmethyl siloxy groups. In another embodiment, the amino functionality isprovided by N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl siloxy groups.

As may be observed from the formulas above, the functional amino groupcan be at some random point in the backbone of the chain of thepolyorganosiloxane, which is flanked by trialkylsiloxy end groups. Also,as may be observed from the formulas, the amino group may be a primary,secondary amine, or tertiary amine.

All the patents and applications referred to herein are herebyspecifically, and totally incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety in the instant specification.

The following Examples further define and describe embodiments of thepresent invention. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentagesare by weight.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Preparation of 350 cs Aminopropyl Functional SiliconeOil

An amount of 1.35 kilograms of octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane, 14.4 gramsof aminopropyl methyl siloxane, 18 grams of trimethyl silanol, andsufficient potassium silanolate to yield a mixture of 0.01 weightpercent potassium silanolate, were placed into a reaction vesselequipped with a reflux column, and heated at 150° C. for 7 hours. Thesolution was cooled and neutralized with ammonium bicarbonate to producea 0.67 mol percent amino silicone oil having a number average molecularweight of 13.65 Kg/mole and a viscosity of 350 cs. All of the amino oilconcentrate (1.382 kg) was then added to 8.907 kg of a 350 csnon-functional polydimethylsilicone oil to yield the desired 0.09 molpercent amine level.

Example 2 Preparation of 350 cs Aminoethyl-Aminopropyl FunctionalSilicone Oil

An amount of 1.35 kilograms of octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane, 19.7 gramsof N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl methyl siloxane, 18 grams of trimethylsilanol, and sufficient potassium silanolate to yield a mixture of 0.01weight percent potassium silanolate, were placed into a reaction vesselequipped with a reflux column, and heated at 150° C. for 7 hours. Thesolution was cooled and neutralized with ammonium bicarbonate to producea 0.67 mol percent diamino silicone oil having a number averagemolecular weight of 13.65 Kg/mole and a viscosity of 350 cs. All of theamino oil concentrate (1.382 kg) was then added to 8.907 kg of a 350 csnon-functional polydimethylsilicone oil to yield the desired 0.09 molpercent pendant functional amine groups.

Example 3 Comparative Testing of Amino Functional Silicone Oil

Several standard amino functional silicone release agents were used inproprietary stress tests for the aforementioned failure modes in ahigh-speed color fusing application. These samples are denoted by F1, F2and F3. These are known release agents used in commercial machinearchitecture, and are representative of the performance of a currentlyproduced fluid. The stripping test was performed to 60K printssuspension. The offset testing was performed to 73K prints suspension.The started wavy gloss was tested to 60K prints suspension. The resultsare shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Stripping Test Offset Test Started wavy Failed for wavy Sample(K prints) (K prints) gloss (K prints) gloss (K prints) F1 24 68.8 1.11.1 F2 38.9 40.5 1.1 1.1 F3 46.2 23.4 1.1 2.1

Table 2 below shows the results of candidate fluids. Candidate improvedfluids, denoted by 1 and 5 are structurallyT-N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl polydimethylsiloxane and D-aminopropylmethyl polydimethylsiloxane, respectively. Fluid 1, prepared in a mannersimilar to Example II, has worked well in historical testing withrespect to offset failures, while Fluid 5, prepared in a manner similarto Example I, has shown some improvement in stripping stress testingrelative to the current fluids, F1–F3. Several blends of the two fluidstructures were tested for both failure modes simultaneously. As shownin the above data, Fluids 3a and 3b, both a 1:1 ratio blend of the twofluid structures at the same viscosity and concentration of aminefunctionality, exhibited improved performance over the currentproduction fluids, F1–F3.

TABLE 2 Sample Stripping test (K prints) Offset Test (K Prints) 1 3.2 260.2 3a 60.3 52.9 3b 60.2 48.8 4 23.7 60 K susp. 5 51.3 Mis-Strip due toOffset

Example 4 T-Type Amino Functional Silicone Oil

Example 1 conditions can be repeated, but modified in order to produce aT-type functional oil as described herein. It is believed that goodstripping results would be obtained with the T-type material.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference tospecific and preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that variousmodifications and variations will be apparent to the artisan. All suchmodifications and embodiments as may readily occur to one skilled in theart are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A fuser member comprising: a substrate; an outer polymeric layer; anda release agent material coating on the outer polymeric layer, whereinthe release agent material coating comprises a T-type amino-functionalsiloxane release agent material having amino-functional groups, whereinsaid T-type amino-functional siloxane release agent material has aformula selected from the group consisting of the following Formula Iand Formula II:

 and

wherein in both Formulas I and II above, A represents —R₄—X, wherein R₄represents an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 10 carbons, Xrepresents —NH₂ or —NHR₅NH₂ with R₅ representing an alkyl group havingfrom about 1 to about 10 carbons; R₁ and R₂ are the same or differentand each is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl having fromabout 1 to about 25 carbons, an aryl having from about 4 to about 10carbons, and an arylalkyl; R₃ is a substituted diorganosilaxane chainhaving from about 1 to about 500 siloxane units; and b and c are numbersand the same or different and each satisfy the conditions of 1≦b≦10 and10≦c≦1,000.
 2. A fuser member in accordance with claim 1, wherein in theFormula I, X represents —NH₂, and R₄ is propyl.
 3. A fuser member inaccordance with claim 1, wherein in the Formula I, X represents—NHR₅NH₂, and R₅ is propyl.
 4. A fuser member in accordance with claim1, wherein the T-type amino-functional siloxane release agent materialhas an amino functionality provided by N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropylsiloxy groups.
 5. A fuser member in accordance with claim 1, whereinsaid T-type amino functional siloxane release agent material has aviscosity of from about 100 to about 1,000 centipoise at 20° C.
 6. Afuser member in accordance with claim 1, wherein said outer polymericlayer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting offluoroelastomers and hydrofluoroelastomers.
 7. A fuser member inaccordance with claim 6, wherein said outer polymeric layer comprises afluoroelastomer.
 8. A fuser member in accordance with claim 7, whereinsaid fluoropolymer is a fluoroelastomer selected from the groupconsisting of a) copolymers of two of vinylidene fluoride,hexafluoropropylene, and tetrafluoroethylene, b) terpolyrners ofvinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, and tetrafluoroethylene, andc) tetrapolymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene,tetrafluoroethylene, and a cure site monomer.
 9. A fuser member inaccordance with claim 8, wherein the fluoroelastomer comprises about 35weight percent of vinylidenefluoride, about 34 weight percent ofhexafluoropropylene about 29 weight percent of tetrafluoroethylene, andabout 2 weight percent cure site monomer.
 10. A fuser member inaccordance with claim 1, further comprising an intermediate layerpositioned between the substrate and the outer polymeric layer.
 11. Afuser member in accordance with claim 10, wherein the intermediate layercomprises silicone rubber.
 12. An image forming apparatus for formingimages on a recording medium comprising: a charge-retentive surface toreceive an electrostatic latent image thereon; a development componentto apply a developer material to the charge-retentive surface to developthe electrostatic latent image to form a developed image on the chargeretentive surface; a transfer component to transfer the developed imagefrom the charge retentive surface to a copy substrate; and a fusermember in accordance with claim
 1. 13. A image forming apparatus inaccordance with claim 12, wherein the said toner is color toner.